Embassy searches for Thai woman missing in Turkey after earthquake

The Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, is searching for a missing Thai woman in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that hit southern Turkey and northern Syria.

The Thai embassy requested clues about the woman, Wilairat Channual, and the rescue team has been notified, Nation Thailand reported yesterday. The embassy is also working with local agencies to repatriate the body of another Thai woman, Chamaiporn Homsantia, who was killed when the hotel she worked at as a masseuse in Iskendrun, Turkey, collapsed.

The embassy has visited Thai victims and distributed bags of supplies. It is also helping them move to safe zones or return to Thailand. The embassy said…

“Foreign Minister Don Pramudwina expects the embassy and Thai agencies to be successful in the mission.”

The embassy thanked Thai networks, volunteers, and business operators in Turkey for their support in helping Thai victims, Nation Thailand reported.

The public is encouraged to follow the news closely and can contact the embassy through its hotline at 0533 641 5698 or through Facebook Messenger at any time for updates.

The 7.8-magnitude quake and aftershocks have now killed over 34,000 people, according to the latest news updates. The quake has impacted millions of people in both countries.

On Friday, Thailand’s royal family sent a condolence letter to the presidents of Turkey and Syria in light of the earthquake tragedy. The king and queen of Thailand say they are very saddened to learn about the earthquake. Their Majesties expressed their sorrow for this great loss and said they hoped that Turkey will be able to overcome this disaster soon.

Last week, the first Thai rescue team arrived in Istanbul. The team was made up of 42 rescue workers and two sniffer dogs, Bangkok Post reported. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha donated 5 million baht on behalf of the Thai government to support humanitarian efforts for earthquake relief in Turkey last week.

UNICEF Thailand has launched an emergency appeal to the Thai public, calling for people to help provide urgent support to the affected communities. UNICEF is working closely with the governments of Turkey and Syria to assess the situation and respond to emerging needs. In Turkey, the efforts are primarily focused on search and rescue, and UNICEF is coordinating with the government and the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency on the humanitarian response.